Did you know?

Bill C-457

A Private Member's bill, Bill C-457, An Act to amend the Employment Equity Act (EEA) was sponsored by Randall Garrison (Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke) was introduced and had a First Reading in the House of Commons last year. On June 12, 2019 the first step toward reaching Royal Assent began. This bill aims to amend the EEA to provide our community be included as a designated group within the Employment Equity Act!

How Does a Bill Reach Royal Assent?

For a Private Member’s Bill – one which is limited in scope, concerning a group of individuals or an individual – it must be presented as a policy proposal, which is considered by a Cabinet committee and recommendations are made to the Cabinet. With approval from the Cabinet, the responsible Minister issues drafting instructions to the Legislation Section of the Dept of Justice.

This Draft bill is prepared in both official languages, and approved, then presented to the Cabinet for approval.

With approval from the Cabinet, it is ready to be introduced in Parliament!

There will be a first reading, in the Senate or the House of Commons; the Bill is printed!

A Second Reading happens in the same House of Parliament, where Members debate and vote on the principle of the bill. The House can decide to refer it to a legislative, standing, or special committee, or the Committee of the Whole.

At the Third Reading, more debate may occur, and the vote on the bill as amended. Once the third reading is complete, it is sent to the Senate for consideration.

Royal Assent; the Bill is presented to the Governor General, who may assent the Bill in the Queens name, withhold assent, or reserve assent.

Only when the Bill receives Royal Assent does it become law.

So what can we do to help make this our reality?

We can assert the need for this Bill to reach Royal Assent by making our Members of Parliament aware. You can fax, phone, write a letter or in many cases e-mail your Member of Parliament about an issue that has to do with federal laws, to show your support for this matter. To find your Member of Parliament, visit the House of Commons site.

For myself, it is so important for our community to be included in the Act, because we know that over half of LGBTQ2+ Canadians prefer not to disclose their identities at work for fear of rejection from their colleagues. As an openly queer and trans person, having inclusion within the Act shows direct action to back up the pledge to keep trans public servants safe as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in 2017, “you deserve justice, and you deserve peace.” This includes peace in the workplace, and part of being able to bring our whole selves to work includes feeling safe and comfortable to do so. Being included within the Employment Equity Act, as Randall Garrison put it, would help engage the employer to “address [LGBTQ2+] inequality and come up with concrete plans to remove barriers to equal employment for all.”

Christopher Tate (they/them), ESDC Employee Pride Network Co-Chair